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Information Desk Safety suggestions are credited in the same manner as their prototype counterparts, including a photo of the employee at work. It’s also fun to report on events that occur during operating sessions. When a crew shortage forced the superintendent (me) to operate trains, an appropriate headline proclaimed that a labor shortage led to management operation of some trains. Over time, my improved com- puter skills have turned the newsletter into a monthly project. Digital images now add color. To top it off, my son Matt created a classy new masthead. Coaling hatch Prairie Ponderings is now an electronic communication sent to more than 60 friends across a dozen states and Canada. Most of these recipients have operated on my layout at various gatherings. The newsletters also provide an excellent record of the railroad’s history. In addition, the coverage provides a timeline of my layout. If you enjoy writing and want to keep your friends up to date, consider publishing a newsletter. It’s a chance to spotlight your efforts and add an additional measure of enjoyment to the World’s Greatest Hobby. – Alan Saatkamp, Harrisburg, S.D.                ®   Steam wrecking cranes came in many sizes, but they all share a similar internal cab layout for operation with a two-man crew. Don Sims photo I’ve just finished building a Tichy 120-ton wrecking crane kit and a boom car. Since it’s a steam crane, I’d like to know where the coal and water were stored to keep it running? I’ve seen photos of these cranes at wreck sites, but seldom see a coal tender. Ralph Symington, Groveland, Mass. I found the answer to this question in an old Industrial Brownhoist steam crane catalog in our David P. Morgan Memorial Library. Industrial-Brownhoist built its 120-ton crane with a squat, vertical boiler centered at the rear of the cab. The heavy hoist machinery was placed over the center pivot to help balance the machine. If you consider the boom as the front, the left rear corner of the cab was occupied by a 500-gallon water tank, and the right rear corner had a coal bunker that held about a ton of coal. A roof hatch allowed the crane to be filled at a locomotive coaling tipple. Depending upon how much work the crane was actually doing, this water and coal supply could last for quite some time. Steam cranes normally re- quired a two-man crew: one man operated the hoist following hand signals from the wreckmaster on the ground, while a second man tended the boiler as a fireman. Two or three additional helpers worked on the ground to adjust the outriggers and prepare for lifts. Most steam wreckers had a small tender nearby for supplies. If needed, refueling was handled by a bucket brigade that passed buckets of coal up to the roof hatch. – Jim Hediger, senior editor Send your questions about prototype railroading to Information Desk, Model Railroader magazine, P.O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187, or e-mail proto@mrmag.com. We regret we can’t answer all the questions we receive. 89266 Union Pacific/CHTT #721005 $29.98 89267 Union Pacific/CHTT #721532 $29.98 89268 Union Pacific/CHTT #720836 $29.98 89269 Union Pacific/CHTT #721724 89270 Union Pacific/CHTT #721287 $29.98 89271 Union Pacific/CHTT #721848 $29.98 $29.98 89272 BNSF #472521 89273 BNSF #471962 89274 BNSF #472444 89275 BNSF #471591 89276 BNSF #473839 89277 BNSF #471689 $29.98 $29.98 $29.98 $29.98 $29.98 $29.98 89278 BNSF Railway #482710 89279 BNSF Railway #482853 89280 BNSF Railway #488461 89281 BNSF Railway #480632 89282 BNSF Railway #481584 89283 BNSF Railway #488470 $29.98 $29.98 $29.98 $29.98 $29.98 $29.98 o6/o9 • Model Railroader 25